Snap-switch.



. G. E. STEVENS.

SNAP SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1908.

Patented Mar.29, 1910.

Fig.1. Fig.2; 1! 2f III m b Inventor George E. Stevens;

Improvements in Snap-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

cover and dial removed; Fig. 2 is a side -elevat1on,w1th the cover In sect1on,.look1ng loosely pivoted on the spindle 6 of the switch.

'citizen of the United States, residing at Ly a radially movable and rotatable catch-plate catch-plate.

-in 'th'e'following specification and claims,

. read'in connection with the accompanying drawing in wh ch,

the working parts insuccessive positions.

preferably circular andconcentric with the spindle. In the underside of the base is a UNITED s'rA'irus PATIENT curios.

GEORGE E. STEVENS, OF LYNN. MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANX'. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SNAP-SNVITCH.

To all whoi'n it ma'y concern:

Be 1t known that I, GEORGE E. STEVENS, a

conntyof Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful This invention relates to electric switches of the quick-break type, and its object is to simplify and improve the operative parts of such a, switch, to confer greater durability, and to lessen the cost of manufacture.

' This switch comprises a rotatable spindle, a spiral spring attached thereto at one end,

attached to the other endof said spring, a large stationary annular stop-plate conceir trio with the spindle, and a Switchblade rotatable on the-spindle and carriedby the Details of construction will be set forth Figure 1 is a top plan view with the knob,

in the direction of the arrow in Fi 1; Fig. 3 s a. (ha-metrical cross-section of Tlig. l on the h'nc 3-3, and Figs, 4, '5 and 6 llustrate The base 1 is madeofinsulating material,

to support tie sheet metal cover 3, in which s an opening 4 to expose ind-icia on a dial5 which-rotates with the switch blade,

The base is hollowed out to house the working parts of the switch, the recess 7 being central recess Sto receive thc'nut 5) on the lower end of the spindle. "A collar 10 on the spindle is let into the base and, serves to three speeds.

steady the spindle.

I In the lower part of the recess 7 is placed i a flat-spiral spring 11 concentric with the l spindle. Its inner end is fixed to the spindle and itsoutcr end is fastened to a wrist pin 12' depending from acatch-platc l3 WlllCll is supported by a vstationary annular stopplated/t r'cstiugon a shoulder '15 in the all of the'recess I.

The t'Yfll'Cll-Plilit) has a coin. iI'Hl'lODglHKllHHl slot 16 which )crmits it to 5 turn upon and slide radiallyo the spindle l specification ofletterslatent- Patented Mar. 29, 1910'- Application filed September 16. 1908. Serial No. 453.290.

in a! transverse plane. At one end thecatelr plate hns a downwardly-projectinglug; or catch 17 adapted to enter radial notches 18 in .the' annular stop-plate adjacent to; the stops"18 The number of notcliesmayvary, but it is preferred to use four, as illustrated, spaced ninety degrees apart.

A switch-blade 19 1s rotatably'mounted i catch-plate, so that these two parts are maintainedin superposition, the catch-plate being slidable lengthwise of the carrier. The switch illustrated is designed to connect an incoming lead with any oneof three branch leads, for the purpose, for example, of ctnitrolling a ceiling fan motor having The lead from. the line is attached to'a plate23 which is in electrical connection.with an annular contact 24 concentric with the spindle and I'QSflllQ'wOll the d upper surface of the base. At three other points around the base. ninety degrees apart, 8 are cllps 2.7 to-each oi. wlncha branch wire is attached. The clips overhang the com tact 24, which is preferably provided. with tongues 26 extending outwardly under said clips. The resilient ends of the switchblade; enter between the clip and tongue and close the circuit therethrough, asshown in Fig.3.

The operation is as follows: Figs. 4:, 5

and tl-arc bottom plan views of the spring",

stop platc. catch-plate, switch-blade and car- .ricr in' three dlfi'crent positions. Fig. t shows the parts at rest, with the catch 17 engaged in'a notch IS in the stop-plate.

liVhen the --spin(lle-is turned (clockwise in Fig. 1 but countercloclnvise in Figs. l, 5- and t3) the spring is wound, and pnllson the wristpin 1; drawing the catch out oi the notch 18 to the position shown inl ig.

The instant the catch clears the -('0!.k )l of the stop 19'. the torsion of the cg suddenly throws the catch-plate and. carrier around to. the loft. lint as the spring ex: pands it slides the catch-plate outwardly again so that utter a quarter revolution the/ catch engages the next stop, as shown in Fig. 6. The spring thus performs three functions, to Wit,retracting the catch from the notch, quickly turning the catch-plate and blade carrier, and projecting the catch into reengagement with the stop-plate.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

l. A snap switch comprising an insulating base, a stop-plate secured to said base, 21 1o tary spindle, a catch-plate movable transversely of the spindle and cooperating with the stop-plate, a rotary switch-blade operatively engaging said catch-plate, and a sprin connected to said catch-plate and said spindle and operating to retract said catchplate, turn-it angularly and project it into reengagement With the stop-plate.

2. A snap switch comprising an insulating base, a stop-plate secured to said base, a rotary spindle, a catch-plate movable transversely of the spindle and cooperating with the stop-plate, upwardly projecting lugs on said catch-plate, a rotary switch-blade engaged by said lugs, and. a spring connected to said catch-plate and said spindle and operating to retract said catch-plate from engagement with said stop-plate, turn it angularly and project it into rengagement With said stop-plate.

3. A snap switch comprising an insulating base, an annular stop-plate secured to said base, a rotary spindle, a catch-plate movable ransversely of said spindle and cooperating with the stop-plate, a rotary switch-blade mounted on said spindle and having sliding connection With said catch-plate, and a spiral spring located in a recess in the insulating base, connecting said spindle and catch-plate and operating to retract said catch-plate from engagement with the stopplate, turn it angularly and project it into rengagement with said stop-p ate.

I In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of- September,

GEORGE E; sTnvENs. Witnesses J OHN A. McMANUs, J12, CHAnLns A. Bummer. 

